Ventilating device



Sept- 5, 1939. E. sT. AUBIN 2,171,903

VENTILATING DEVICE.

Filed Jan. l0, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 L 4, r 'i' 1.7%*

Patented Sept. 5, 1939 u l uurrlzo STATES PATENT' oli-Fica Claims.

This invention relates to a Ventilating device and more particularly to a device of this character adapted to be installed in connection with the seat of a toilet bowl and extract air and obnoxious odors from the bowl.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be very easily installed in connection with a toilet bowl and a suction pipe forming part of the apparatus secured under the seat where Iitwill be out of the way and at the same time in such a position that a good suction will be created entirely about the upper portion of the bowl.

It is another object of'the invention to provide improved means for mounting the suction pipe and so associate an elastic mounting ring for the pipe with the same that, when the seat of the bowl is in a lowered position, this elastic ring may bowl during use of the -be compressed by contact with the bowl and fit tightly about the suction pipel It will-thusbe seen that a tight joint will be formed about the suction ring and in addition the suction pipe itl self will be prevented from making `Contact with the bowl and becoming bent out of its proper shape.

Another object of the invention is to so form the suction pipe that its diameter will increase towards its outlet and thus 'gradually increase the capacity of the pipe and provide ample room therein for the carrying oi of air withdrawn from the bowl.

Another object of the invention is improved means for mounting the air pipe for swinging movement to a raised or lowered-position with the seat, this means including a rotatably mounted pipe leading to a suction fan having an electric motor associated therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character wherein the motor and the suction fan are mounted upon a bracket constituting a portion of a mounting by means of which the seat is mounted forswinging movement, the mounting means for the seat being so constructed that it may extend across the rear portion of the bowl and dispose the suction fan and motor at either side of the bowl desired.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure l is a perspective View ofa toilet bowl equipped with the improved Ventilating means,

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken through the bowl and Ventilating means along the line 2 2 of Figure l but showing the seat and its cover in a lowered position, i

Figure 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, y

Figure lis a sectional view upon an Ienlarged scale taken transversely through the seat` and the suction pipe and mounting ring carried there- 5' by with a portion of the bowl being also shown in section, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along-,the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

The bowl l is of a'conventional construction 10 and it is formed with the usual water channel 2 from which water is discharged through the openings 3, water being fed to the channel Z through a pipe from the usual ush tank 5. Over the bowl is disposed a seat 6. There has also been l5 .shown a cover l, but it is to be understood that the cover may be omitted if so desired.

In order that a 'suction may be created in the bowl and air and obnoxious odors withdrawn during use of the bowl, there has been provided a suction tube or ring 8 which substantially conforms to the outline of the seat and is disposed against the under face thereof in encircling relation to the opening of the seat, but attention `is called to the fact that this ring is spaced from marginal edges of the seat, as clearly shown in Figure l. Referring to this figure, it will also'be seen that the diameter of the tube gradually increases from the front of the seat towards the rear of the seat and, therefore, the capacity of the tube gradually increases towards the rear end of the seat where the tube is integrally connected with a hollow arm 9 constituting a side extension of a suction pipe it. A plurality of openings or perforations i l are formed in the tube 9 in spaced relation to each other in order that air may be drawn into the tube from the bowl. vWhile the openings il have been shown circular,` it is to be understood that they may be of any desired outline in cross section, such as square or oblong. The suction pipe extends transversely of the bowl and seat rearwardly thereof and serves not only as a suction pipe but also as means for pivotally mounting the seat. Referring to Figures 2 and ll, it will be seen that the tube t is encircled by a retainer strip l2 formed of rubber or other elastic material. This strip l2 ts snugly about the tube and is mounted in a ring or frame li formed of sheet metal and secured against the under face of the seat t by a suitable number of screws M. Portionsof the llange l5 of the frame are bent inwardly, as shown at it, in order to have gripping engagement with the ring or pad l2 and hold the pad in place. From an inspeetion of Figure 4, it will be seen that the pad 55 projects beyond the ange I5 a sumcient distance to prevent contact of this flange with the bowl when the seat is lowered. Therefore, when the seat is lowered and subiectedto pressure, the pad will be expanded laterally and have tight binding engagement with the tube. This will cause the tube to be very firmly secured and in addition will form a tight joint about the tube and leakage of air about the tube prevented.

A suction ian I1 has its inlet neck I8 engaged about one of the reduced end portions I8 ofthe exhaust pipe I0. The exhaust fan is provided with a base 20 which rests upon a bracket 2I, one end portion of which is bent upwardly, as shown at 22, and supports an electric motor 23, the source of which is coupled te the shaft 24 of the fan I1. While it has been stated that the shaft oi the motor is coupled to the shaft of the fan, it will be obvious that the mot'or may have a shaft of suicient length to extend into the housing of the fan and .have the hub of the fan blade mounted thereon. The bracket 2l constitutes a portion of a plate 25 which extends across the rear portion 'of the bowl and carries bearing sleeves 26 through which the shaft I0 is journaled. These sleeves 26 are detachably secured by screws 2G' or in any other desired manner, and since they t about the reduced endportion I9 of the exhaust pipe I0, the pipe will be prevented from shifting longitudinally through the bearings'and the seat will be prevented from sluiting out of its proper position over the bowl. Hinge ears 21 extend from the exhaust pipe back of the seat, and to these ears are pivoted the rear ends of the hinge strap 28, by means of which the cover 'l is mounted for swinging movement to a raised or lowered position. It will thus be seen that the cover may be swung vertically independent of the seat or the seat and cover may be moved together. When no cover is provided, the hinge ears 21 maybe omitted.

When this device is in use, it is applied to the bowl, as shown in Figure 1, and the fastener 29 carried by the tongue 30 tightened to rmly hold the mounting in place across the rear portion of the bowl. 'I'he frame I3 carrying the pad I2 and the exhaust tube 8 is secured against the under face of the seat, and in view of the fact that this frame is firmly secured by the screws I4, the suction tube or exhaust tube will be maintained in its proper relation to the seat. The discharge neck 3l of the fan extends rearwardly from the housing thereof into the wall 32 back of the bowl and is connected with a vent pipe 3l extending vertically through the wall. .It will thus be seen that any air withdrawn from the bowl by the fan will be discharged through the pipe or nozzle 3l into the vent and pass upwardly through the vent. Instead of disposing the motor and fan at the left hand side of the bowl, they may be at the right hand side thereof, in which case the plug 34 closing one end,of the .exhaust pipe Il will be removed and transferred to the other end thereof. This should only be done in cases where the vent pipe extends' vertically in the wall in a position which would make it inconvenient to connect the pipe 2| with it when the motor and the fan are located at the left side of the bowl. 'Ihe seat is disposed in its lowered position in which the under faceof the pad I2 rests upon the water channel 2 and when -theseat is occupied pressure will cause a tight `ioint to be formedbetween' the seat and' the bowl and also about the exhaust tube l. A person occupying the seat will also apply pressure to a exhaust pipe,

- increasing in haust pipe extending withthe exhaust pipe,

switch 35 mounted in a side portion of the seat and connected with wires leading from the motor. This will cause the motor to be set in motion and air will be drawn from the bowl through the perforations II` into the tube l and through this tube into the exhaust pipe or tubular shaft Il leading tothe fan. The air entering the fan housing will beexpelled through the pipe 3I and pass through this pipe to the vent. It will thus be seen that air and obnoxious odors will be withdrawn from the bowland dischargedinto the vent pipe leading to the roof of a building and fouling of air in a room will be avoided,

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In combination with a toilet bowl, a mounting at the back of the bowl extending transversely thereof with one end portion projecting from a side of the bowl, bearings rising from said plate, an exhaust pipe rotatably supported through the bearings of said mounting and extending transversely of the bowl, an exhaust fan carried by the extended end portion of said mounting and having its inlet connected with the adjacent end of the exhaust pipe, a discharge pipe for said ian adapted to be connected with a vent pipe, a seat,

a-suction tube secured under said seat and extending about the same and opening into said and an electric motor for said fan mounted upon the extended end portion of said mounting outwardly from the Ian and having a control switch carried by said seat in position to be closed by the weight of a person occupying the seat. I l,

2. In combination with a toilet bowl, a mounting at the back of the bowl, an exhaust pipe rotatably carried bysaid mounting and extending `transversely of the bowl, a suction fan connected with one end of said exhaust pipe, a motor for said fan, a. seat. a tube secured to the under face of the seat about the. opening inthe seat, said tube being formed with perforations and diameter toward the rear end-of the seat to provide gradually increasing capacity, said exhaust pipe having a hollow extension intermediate its length united to the enlarged rear portion of said tube and constituting a throat connecting the tube with the exhaust pipe, and means for setting the motor in operation when the seat is occupied. i

3. In combination with a toilet bowl, an extransversely of the rear portion of the bowl and rotatably mounted, an exhaust fan connected with said exhaust pipe, a motor for said fan, an exhaust tube disposed under the seat and extending about the same between inner and outer marginalledges of the seat, said tube being perforated to provide air inlets and having its rear portion communicating an annular frame secured against the under face of said seat and surrounding said tube and having an outer peripheral wall formed with an inwardly extending lower flange, and a packing of elastic material mounted in said frame and iitting tightly about the exhaust tube between the tube and the flanged wall of the frame and projecting beyond the tube and the ilange of the frame whereby the packing will be firmly held in place and the outer face of the packing may make contact with the'bowl and the 4. In combination with a .a suction tube exmunication wih the exhaust plate secured to the under face pipe, .an annular of said seat about `tube Em ST. AUBIN. 

